When rap fans decry the atomization of the genre, they usually focus on its negative aftereffects: a lack of crossover superstars, an irrevocable split between Gen-Z internet kids and boom-bap old heads, and a surplus of ephemeral trends geared towards meaningless virality. But the emergence of solo auteurs like Aesop …
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O n a late spring afternoon (that doesn’t feel like April), Prospect Heights’ Leland Eating and Drinking House is pretty empty. Four people are sitting at tables in the upscale cafe, chatting over a playlist of early ‘00s hits from artists like Ashanti. Eventually, Billy Woods arrives wearing a Black …
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A great performance at SXSW can happen anywhere: An official showcase at a downtown venue, an unofficial get-together at an East Side bar, a shindig thrown by a third-party political group, or all of the above. Here are the best things we saw on Wednesday, March 12, at SXSW 2025. …
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